The GIANTS will look to continue to their record-breaking start to 2024 as they aim for six straight wins in a clash with Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

Match Details

Carlton v GIANTS        
Saturday, April 20 at 4:35pm
Marvel Stadium | Wurundjeri Country

What it Means for the GIANTS

The GIANTS’ record unbeaten start to the season remains intact – but only just – after Saturday’s thrilling one-point win over the Saints at Manuka Oval.

Up by 35 points halfway through the final term, the Saints sent a scare through the GIANTS’ camp as they kicked six unanswered goals to cut the lead to a solitary point with 41 seconds left.

The late scare however was just that, as a superb late mark in the GIANTS’ defensive 50 from substitute James Peatling helped quell the Saints’ final attacking foray as Adam Kingsley’s men held on for a thrilling 11.14 (80) and 12.7 (79) win to maintain their unbeaten start to the year.

While the nail-biting victory was marred by injuries to star GIANTS Sam Taylor (concussion) and Stephen Coniglio (knee), both thankfully escaped serious injuries but have been ruled out for round six.

Still atop the AFL ladder and one of only two remaining unbeaten sides alongside the Cats, the GIANTS are now looking to extend their current record winning streak to start a season to six matches with victory over the Blues on Saturday.

The Opposition

Carlton has started its 2024 campaign in fine form after winning its first four games of the season before a tough two-point loss to the Crows ended their winning run over the weekend.

Looking home as the game entered time on in the final term, the Blues gave up the final three goals of the game as Crows substitute Sam Berry snapped the winning goal with just over a minute remaining to give the visitors an unlikely victory.

The Blues lost Mitch McGovern and Adam Saad to hamstring injuries early in the close loss, with both set to miss the clash with the GIANTS on Saturday.

Adam Cerra will also miss after being a late withdrawal for the clash with the Crows with a hamstring injury of his own, suffered at training during the week.

Recent History

While the Blues have won three of the last four games between the sides, it was the big big sound that echoed around Marvel Stadium in their most recent encounter as the GIANTS claimed a 32-point win in round 24 last year.

Led by skipper Toby Greene’s four goals, the GIANTS registered a 6.9 (105) to 11.7 (73) victory in the must-win clash which saw them secure a finals spot in the last home and away game of the season.

The win also saw the GIANTS snap the Blues’ nine-game winning streak. 

Key Match-Up:  Twin Towers v GIANT Defence 

The GIANTS will enter Saturday’s clash without their best, and arguably the AFL’s best, defender in Sam Taylor.

The loss of the All-Australian defender comes at an unfortunate time for the GIANTS, who are preparing to face the competition’s best key forward duo in Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

Curnow and McKay have wreaked havoc on the competition in the early part of the season, kicking 30 goals across the opening five games to be the competition’s most formidable attacking one-two punch.

Led by Taylor’s sidekick Jack Buckley - who is in the best form of his career - how the GIANTS backline can cover the loss of Taylor and mitigate the impact of the Blues’ monster forwards will be pivotal to the outcome of Saturday’s game. 

GIANTS Player to Watch 

While the names of Toby Greene, Tom Green and Josh Kelly often get the recognition for their stellar play, there are several GIANTS who fly under the radar and often don’t get the outside plaudits.

Dashing defender Lachie Ash is a prime example of a GIANT who continues to excel in his role in the Orange Tsunami’s surge to a record-breaking five straight wins to open the season.

Increasing his output every year since joining the club ahead of the 2020 season, Ash has been a key piece of the GIANTS’ dynamic defence so far this season, with his dash and dare off half back a real weapon in Adam Kingsley’s arsenal.

In the recent win over the Saints in Canberra, the 22-year-old was at his damaging best, finishing with 26 disposals, nine intercept possessions, nine marks, and six rebound-50s in another strong outing for one of the competition’s best emerging defenders. 

In the Mix

Former captain Callan Ward (33 touches, 12 clearances) did his chances of a senior call up no harm after a dominant return to football through the VFL last week. 

Several other GIANTS put their names in the mix in the impressive VFL win, with Harry Rowston (30 touches), Darcy Jones (22 touches, two goals), Conor Stone (18 touches, three goals), Ryan Angwin (24 touches), Josh Fahey (29  touches), Leek Aleer (14 touches, six marks), and Max Gruzewski (four goals) leading a host of strong performers in the win.

Team Selection

The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Blues at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.

Rehab Report

Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s match with the Blues here.

Where to Watch

Saturday’s match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 4:30pm as well as live and free on 7mate from 4:30pm in NSW and the ACT.

Social Media

Be part of the #BigBigSound in 2024 - For all the latest news, follow @GWSGIANTS on social media: Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

Carlton is most certainly the real deal.

After an extraordinary run of six goals in 14 minutes in the third term, the Blues twice hauled in 20-point margins to overrun the ladder-leading and previously undefeated GIANTS, winning by 19 in a 17.15 (117) to 15.8 (98) result at a packed Marvel Stadium.

Classy GIANTS winger Josh Kelly – one of his side's best – had kicked two goals in 90 seconds halfway through the third to help build out a second 20-point buffer.

But Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay responded by kicking goals for the first time all match, and then Curnow and McKay and Curnow again, and suddenly Blues fans were lifting the roof off the stadium with their voice and drums as they hit the front.

They were never headed from there.

Curnow – disposal-less in the opening term, matched up mostly against Jack Buckley – had started the second with a sense of urgency, but rushed himself in his desperation to get going, kicking four behinds in that single quarter.

Meanwhile, the GIANTS gradually chipped away in a methodical manner, calmly picking out options by hand and foot – moving the ball at pace, but never rushed, racking up 5.3 for the term. It was their best period of play for the game.

Curnow was sent to the backline in the final minutes to successfully stem the flow, while Ollie Hollands and Tom De Koning hauled the margin back to nine at the main break, saving Blues fans from being consigned back to the tortured Carlton department.

The GIANTS' tackling pressure through the second and start of the third term was simply superb, putting a brake on Carlton's clearance work and briefly creating a brick wall across their defensive 50, but they weren't able to hold back the dam wall for the full game.

Leek Aleer – playing his first game in 609 days, replacing the concussed Sam Taylor – had an intriguing battle with McKay, recording 10 spoils in the first half and holding the star goalless until halfway through the third.

Carlton superstar Sam Walsh's sharp return from a back injury continued, adding 35 disposals and six clearances to the 34 he recorded last week.

Jacob Weitering suffered a corked quad just seconds before half-time, but more concerningly, Zac Williams was subbed off after suffering what the club described as a "knock" to his Achilles tendon.

CARLTON                                      5.1     7.7     14.10     17.15 (117)  
GIANTS                                            4.1     9.4      12.7        15.8 (98)  

GOALS

Carlton: McKay 3, De Koning 3, Curnow 3, E.Hollands 2, Durdin 2, Owies, Kennedy, O.Hollands, Cottrell
GIANTS: Riccardi 3, Kelly 3, Hogan 3, Bedford 2, Peatling, Daniels, Cadman, Buckley

BEST

Carlton: Cripps, Walsh, De Koning, Curnow, McKay, Pittonet
GIANTS: Green, Kelly, Hogan, Aleer, Whitfield

INJURIES

Carlton: Williams (Achilles knock), Weitering (corked quad)
GIANTS: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Jack Carroll (replaced Zac Williams at half-time)
GIANTS: James Peatling (replaced Xavier O'Halloran at three-quarter time)

Crowd: 40,474 at Marvel Stadium